Move over wife!

[Turd Ferguson]

I brought my 1998 Ducati Monster 900 home last night.  The seller drove it 4 hours to meet me for free and included some gear that was in great shape.  Triumph boots, Firstgear pants, Teknic cold weather jacket and a bunch of extra parts for the bike.  He told me the bike was in great shape (stored in heated garage, under cover on carpet) but I was not prepared for how perfect this bike was.  Incredible.  I won the freakin lottery!  The bike looks like it has never been ridden.  He was a huge Ducati nut, so the bike was in good hands and has had all maintenance done by a Ducati shop.  He had an extremely hard time letting it go.  He must have kissed the tank 10 times (not joking...time to break out the Honda Polish).

Got the bike home and had two buddies help me load it off of the truck.  By merely bumping the starter, the engine jumped to life belting out an incredibly deep tone from the carbon fiber Ferracci exhaust.  I gave it a quick rev and the throttle response was every bit as quick as your average 600cc supersport bike.  The engine roared an incredibly distinct Ducati bark.  I took it around the neigborhood for about 10 minutes getting used to the different geometry and body position.  It has Ducati clip-ons which are quite a reach compared to the GS, though not quite as extreme as a supersport bike.  Countersteering is a MUST with this bike and required me to actually have to think about it at first, whereas the GS will flick into corners at low speeds without any drama.  I rode the bike to a gas station to fill the tires, and then it was off to a buddies house.  I felt like I was riding in a late sixties muscle car while astride the M900.  With its deep forceful exhaust note, the rattling dry clutch, shaking of the engine and the stiff clutch this bike was deffinately far less civilized than my GS, which is exactly what I wanted.  The bike seemed to froth at the mouth like a pissed off bull dog.

What a conversation piece!  From the time we were loading the bike in Kansas City to the time when I put the bike away, I must have had 10 strangers come up and strike up a conversation about the bike.  From the college kids giving me the "woah, that thing is badass!" to the older gentleman in his 60's reminiscing about the Ducati he used to own, everyone was excited to see it.  It seems that any crowd wll appreciate this bike, from the fat dudes on cruisers to the squids on their R1's; everyone digs a Monster.

I left my camera in the truck that I used to pick up the bike.  Give me until next week, I'm going to clean off the kiss marks and take some good pictures of my newest obsession.

-Turd.

[TadMC]

x

[Stephen072774]

gotta love the monster... that will be high on my list should I ever get another street bike...

Keep us imformed about impressions and maintence... hurry with the pics

[TadMC]

x

[pantablo]

OOOh, NICE. congratulations. those are very nice nakeds...you'll like it. There's nothing like that exhaust bark too!

It has Ducati clip-ons which are quite a reach compared to the GS, though not quite as extreme as a supersport bike.

not so much. teh monsters are notorious for a really long reach to the bars. You need to work harder with your torso and legs to keep yoru weight off your hands. Notoriously hard clutch pull too. Sportbike clipons might be lower (might not) but they are WAY closer-I mean like wrists near your knees for most average height people.

[blue05twin]

Grats man can't wait to see pic's of your new bike 

[Jake D]

I suspect that he had all the service done at Letko.  The guys are Letko are first rate and don't even get pissed when I drool all over the 999 and the F4. 
On of the guys that opened Letko was my dad's shop teacher at Washington High in the late 60's. 
Keep the maintenance in their hands, if you don't mind coming to KCK and you'll be ahead of the game.
Sweet purchase! 
Did you keep the GS?

[pnaberhaus]

Good for you Be careful, as you've got a new handling/braking/power envelope to explore. Sounds like you've got a keeper!

[Mk1inCali]

Do you mind me asking how much your insurance changed from the GS to the M9?


I've been looking to upgrade and am debating the older 750/900 versus a motard.  Still not sure.

[roguegeek]

All Ducatis have a pretty extreme reach, even compared to the most extreme sport bikes. Let us know how the Monster works out. I'd love to have one, but I'd like the reliability question to be answered.

[scratch]

 

[pandy]

Congrats on the new baby!! 

pnaberhaus: That 914 in your avatar is sooooo kewt!  Those are the only cars that I LOVE in yellow! 

[Turd Ferguson]

Yes, the reach to the bars is deffinately long, good call gents.  I guess I really didn't think of that until you mentioned it.  Overall, it's not an extreme reach by any means.

Still haven't gotten to ride the bike any more, I've been busy with a friends wedding.  Here is the only good picture I have of the bike so far.  More to come later this week.



-Turd.

[scratch]

OMIGOSH!  HOW CAN YOU DO THAT TO YOUR BIKE!  A DUCATI NO LESS!  IT'S A SHAME!  THE TIRES ARE DIRTY!

[MrDan]

Is it still in the truck?  I can probably find it before the wedding's done hehe

Beautiful bike man .... one day I'll have mine .... love to have the 750 chromo if i can ever find another one ... balked at one a few years back 

[yamahonkawazuki]

damn you turd that bike gives me wood beautiful machine btw = sex on wheels

[Chilly Willy]

damn you turd that bike gives me wood beautiful machine btw = sex on wheels

That's why it has the permanently mounted carbon fiber love-stain protector on the tank.

[Turd Ferguson]

damn you turd that bike gives me wood beautiful machine btw = sex on wheels

That's why it has the permanently mounted carbon fiber love-stain protector on the tank.

Its magnetic for easy removal/cleaning.   

-Turducci.

[The Buddha]

Hook the tie down straps to the frame ... yea ... capital idea ... if you want to dent or spread that damn thing. Believe me, its paper thin. You can slice through it with a kitchen knife ... like those strong ass ginsu types, not cheesy walmart crap.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Turd Ferguson]

Yeah I totaly ruined the high strength steel frame with a 5/16" diameter rubber coated tie down hook.  ??  You sure are a strange dude Sri.

I'm going to talk to a friend who is a great photographer about getting some worthwhile pictures for me this weekend.  We'll see!



-Turd.